Ricoh GR - User Review


MichaelLee

Senior Member
May 19, 2003
3,800
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JB, SG
gr_s.jpg




Specs and Press Release can be found Ricoh announces GR Thanks APDS to loan a set of GR and GW3 (wide angle converter) to hands on experience and write a user review on CS.



This user review is mainly focussed on ;
- Impression on the camera design, build
- New feature compared to GR4
- On field shooting
- Comment
 

Main Features

  • APS C sensor
  • 28mm (effective range) f2.8
  • low pass filter
  • very fast AF
  • lots of useful dedicated button for easy access and control
  • history of GR
  • HD video
  • ISO 100-25600
  • TAV priority
  • one step setting for time lapse and multi exposure
  • electronic shutter (no shutter sound)
  • 3inch LCD, 1.23m dots
  • ~250g (with battery and SD card)
  • really a pocket size cam



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* note that the cover ring was removed from the camera




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- the ADJ control with press mode, can be set for 5 main features
- ADJ control can also be turn left/right to adjust ISO
- dedicated AEL,AFL,C-AF switch
- the circular button next to the AEL/CAF switch is AE lock
- + and - switch on the top right is exposure control and the play button is position right below
- Fn 1 and Fn 2 can be customised as per user preference




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* New Tav mode (TAv mode essentially allows you to set the shutter speed, and the aperture while the camera adjusts for the exposure using the ISO)
* 3 user settings mode





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* Flash button
* effect button to visual effects : B&W, B&W(TE), B&W Contrast, Cross Process, Positive Film, Bleach bypass, Retro, Miniaturize, High Key




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* pocket size camera. If I am not wrong, GR is the smallest and lightest APS C sensor camera as of today
 

Looking forward to full real-life review. Hoping the IQ would live up to my expectation of APS-C sensor. I'd be happy if the operability is even only slightly better than my GRD3.

*Start saving some money. Will have to wait until end of this year to finance this :D...
 

* PLEASE TAKE NOTE THE RESULT OF ALL THE IMAGE FROM MY REVIEW IS FROM A PRE PRODUCTION MODEL







Pic straight out from cameras on visual effects



B&W

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B&W(TE)

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B&W Contrast

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Cross Process

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Positive Film



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Bleach bypass

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Retro

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Miniaturize

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High Key

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More images when GR in operation mood



the lens protrudes slightly
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flash is on
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Compared to GRIV, it may only 15% larger

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GR lens with multi coating (you may read the official spec of GR lens here)


f6.3, ISO100 (on tripod) Straight out from camera

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*you may download the higher resolution pic here (2048 x 1356)






Center cropped

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corner cropped

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Ability to resist to CA and flare


f3.2, ISO100

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center crop

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f7.1, ISO100

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do you have any sample images that shows its depth of field, something which the earlier GRD can't show. Portraits of people showing that would be great!
 

here are various aperture settings, picture straight out from camera.


f2.8

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f3.2

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f4

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f5

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f6.3

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f8

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f9

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f11

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f13

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f16 (smallest available aperture)

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macro mode (min 0.1m focussing distance) at f2.8

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Testing various ISO settings. Camera place on tripod, camera built-in NR is switched off, shot in JPEG (no noise reduction from PP), at aperture f6.3

ISO100
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ISO200
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ISO400
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ISO640
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ISO800
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ISO1,000

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ISO1,250

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ISO1,600

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ISO2,000

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ISO2,500 - You may download the higher resolution here

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ISO3,200 - You may download the higher resolution here

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ISO4,000

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ISO5,000

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ISO6,400 - You may download the higher resolution here

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Remaining of ISO settings are 12800, 16000, 20000, 25600. Please note that in-camera NR is switched off from the above test. Personally I feel that ISO is acceptable all the way to 3,200. ISO6,400 is still ok if NR is switched on.
 

GW3 , wide angle converter to have effective range of 21mm

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